Autistic Melbourne teen accused of murdering girl YAWNS in court

An autistic teenager charged with the rape and murder of a young woman appeared disinterested and yawned while he sat in the dock in court on Thursday.

Aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon's body was found on a soccer field in Princes Park in Carlton North, inner Melbourne, at about 3am on Wednesday by a passerby.

The 22-year-old was on her way home from a Tuesday night performance at Highlander Bar in Melbourne's CBD when she was allegedly raped and murdered.

Her final words on Facebook were made inviting her friends to the Tuesday night performance, which she chillingly predicted would be 'a good night'.

'You guys should come along and watch. It will be a good night,' she wrote.

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A young woman found dead on a soccer pitch has been identified as aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon (pictured)

Jaymes Todd was arrested for the incident at Broadmeadows Police Station after CCTV images were released by police

Pictured is Ms Dixon's body being removed from the park in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North

Jaymes Todd handed himself in to police on Wednesday night and was charged over the alleged killing and sexual assault on Thursday morning.

The 19-year-old man, who police said did not know Ms Dixon, surrendered himself at Broadmeadows Police Station after officers released CCTV images.

Mr Todd did not say anything for the full hour he spent sitting in Melbourne Magistrates Court dock - although at one point he was seen putting a hand over his mouth in order to conceal a yawn.

His Legal Aid lawyer John Riordan argued that Mr Todd's mental health condition, as well as his age and appearance, would put the teenager at high risk in prison, The Age reports.

Mr Riordan told the court that Mr Todd's family had 'indicated his condition makes him socially regressive.

'He struggles in certain social environments and that may have a significant impact on him in custody,' said the lawyer.

The court further heard that Mr Todd was on prescribed medication for his condition.

Mr Riordan applied to have Mr Todd's name and image suppressed from all media reports for the sake of the culprit's 15-year-old brother, but Magistrate Andrew McKenna ultimately ruled otherwise.

Ms Dixon's last words on social media were made inviting her Facebook friends to the Tuesday night gig

Mr Todd handed himself in to police hours later, and was charged over the alleged rape and murder of Ms Dixon (pictured)

A staff member at the venue told Daily Mail Australia Ms Dixon was remembered fondly by everyone working there.

'There have been a lot of tears shed,' he said.

'She performed here every Tuesday night, and it has hit everyone here really hard.'

'It's pretty harrowing.'

The worker said the area around the venue was well-lit and safe at night, and the alleged rape and murder has rocked the community.

Australian comedian Julia Morris described Ms Dixon as an 'important and funny voice' in a heartfelt tribute on social media.

'I am absolutely shattered to hear of the despicable death of Eurydice Dixon,' she wrote on Twitter.

'Our comedy community is like a family and this news is beyond heart breaking. My deepest condolences go to her family and friends.'

Homicide detectives combed the park in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North (pictured is the scene)

'I am absolutely shattered to hear of the despicable death of Eurydice Dixon,' (pictured) wrote Australian comedian Julia Morris on Twitter, stating that 'Our comedy community is like a family and this news is beyond heart breaking'

Highlander Bar staff member James Forman said Ms Dixon (pictured) was a regular at the bar and performed to packed houses

Fellow comedian Chris Franklin, famous for his song 'Bloke', described Ms Dixon as 'one of ours'.

'The Melbourne comedy community is grieving today... I worked with her over the last two festivals in Melbourne,' he wrote on Facebook.

'All who can in the comedy scene will be attending the Highlander gig next Tuesday to remember her.'

Sydney-based comedian Mark Williamson said the incident was 'wrong on so many levels'.

'What sort of society are we living in when a young comedian can't even make it home safe from a gig on a weeknight,' he wrote.

'I never met you Eurydice and I'm sad I'll never get to see your comedy. RIP.'

The accused was remanded in custody after being charged with one count of rape and one count of murder, and will face Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday morning (pictured is a CCTV image released by police)

Ms Dixon left Highlander Bar (pictured) in Melbourne's central business district shortly after 10.30pm after a comedy gig

A staff member at the venue told Daily Mail Australia Ms Dixon (pictured) was remembered fondly by everyone working there

Ms Dixon's social media pages reveal a love for the stage

Another Highlander Bar employee, James Forman, said she was a regular at the bar and performed to packed houses, The Age reported.

'She was just wonderful,' said Mr Forman.

'Everybody who knew her at the bar would comment on what a lovely and polite person she was.

'She was quite shy and very reserved, which was very strange, because once she got up on stage she'd have the attention of the whole room and they'd all be laughing.'

Ms Dixon's social media pages reveal a love for the stage and her close relationship with the Melbourne performing arts community.

Ms Dixon recently appeared in a macabre comedy sketch titled 'A Date With Death' in which she was the victim of a stabbing murder.

Ms Dixon recently appeared in a macabre comedy sketch titled 'A Date With Death'. Her character was the victim of a stabbing murder

The actor in the sketch who played Death said: 'Age 35, stabbed and left for dead in an alleyway'

Fellow comedian Chris Franklin, famous for his song 'Bloke', was among those to pay tribute to Ms Dixon

'Age 35, stabbed and left for dead in an alleyway behind the Victoria Gardens Kmart,' said an actor playing Death as Ms Dixon lay motionless on the stage.